Opioid-Sparing Techniques

What are opioids?

Opioids are a class of prescription pain medicines which are commonly prescribed to treat pain from injuries or surgeries. Unfortunately, these medications can cause addiction and a multitude of unpleasant side-effects (nausea, constipation, itching). They also tend to lose their effectiveness in treating pain over time, thus requiring higher and higher doses to achieve the same original effect. No doubt you have heard about our national opioid crisis in the news, or perhaps have even had a loved one affected by it.

What are opioid-sparing strategies?

While opioid-sparing techniques may not eliminate the need for opioids, we make every effort to reduce opioid use. Education is a key initial component to reducing opioid consumption. Simply understanding the risks of opioids, many patients will choose to take less or none at all and be more vigilant for signs of addiction.

Non-opioid pain relief options

There are some alternatives to opioids that can be used including Tylenol, NSAIDs and topical compounds which are not addictive but do have their own side effects to consider.

Surgical options to avoid opioids

Minimally invasive surgical techniques have the benefit of less pain and more rapid recovery. Anesthesia techniques like long-acting local or regional block numbing can significantly reduce the need for opioids.

Opioid monitoring post-surgery

When opioids are required after surgery, careful monitoring of prescription refills can help to reduce the risk for addiction. Referral to a pain management specialist or psychiatrist is sometimes needed for patients with chronic pain, as we only prescribe opioids for a limited period around the time of surgery or injury.